‘Better Than Me’: Filipino Parents Get Emotional as Their Children Win Youth Olympic Medals

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“I want my kids to be better than me,” said Ben Cesar, a former national athlete. At the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, his daughter, Naomi Marjorie Cesar, took women’s 800-meter silver, and Jonah Genilza’s son, Pi Durden Forward Wangkay, won men’s 200-meter bronze.

Genilza, also a former national athlete, was almost hoarse from cheering in the stands. “I just couldn’t believe he did it, despite the fact that he didn’t get a PB [personal best], he’s improved his season best,” she said.

Jade Justine Justiniane isn’t getting any favor from the Atlantic wind and finds himself in fifth place with 84 points after Races 10 to 12 in men’s windsurfing on Wednesday off Saly Beach West in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Justiniane plays catch up for a podium finish to third-running Rayen Briki (83 points) of Tunisia and fourth-placed Ittipol Yomjinda (71) of Thailand. There are 24 competitors in men’s windsurfing that ends with three more races on Thursday. [POC Media Pool]

“I’m proud of what Pi’s been accomplishing,” said Genilza, who is in Dakar to personally coach her son. “He once told me when he was younger that he’d be better than me,” she said.

Parents Proud of Youth Olympic Medalists

“And he’s doing that already, he’s here in the [Youth] Olympics and he won a bronze medal,” Genilza continued. The Dakar experience will go down as one of the most memorable for both parents.

Genilza and Ben Cesar, who both balance being parent and coach, spoke to the POC Media Pool Tuesday at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop Stadium after the athletics competitions ended. Both said they were happy and proud to see their children perform better.

Ben Cesar, whose national team service from 1991 to 1997 included the Southeast Asian Games, said what matters most to him. “For them to be doing this is the most important part,” he said.

Ben Cesar said the medal means more because of what it represents. “Obviously I’m very happy, but happier knowing Naomi is doing this not only for herself but for the kids back home, she dreamed of doing this,” he said.

Dakar Medal Runs and Parents’ Advice

Naomi Cesar made her move as she approached the turn toward the final 100 meters to finish second in 2:09.34, behind Ethiopia’s Netsanet Selemon (2:04.43) and ahead of Morocco’s Khadija Elmostaqim (2:10.05). Her run, like Wangkay’s, needed everything she had.

Running “blind” on Lane 9, Wangkay exploded in the final to take bronze in 21.96 seconds, missing silver to Guyana’s Deuquan’ Farrell by four-thousandths of a second in a photo finish. Zimbabwe’s Ropafadzo Mzondo won the race in 21.04.

Both parents said their children’s love of sports came naturally. Genilza let Wangkay choose after he tried swimming, football and then track, while Ben Cesar let his kids play multiple sports, including soccer, before Naomi found track.

Genilza and Ben Cesar thanked Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio. They credited both for supporting not only their children but all of Philippine sports.

They extended the same thanks to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano. The parents credited all three officials for backing Philippine sports, not only their own children.

Genilza’s message to other parents is to support their children and never give up. “Not to give up—when Pi was starting, he’d make the semis, then improved making the finals, then became a medalist,” she said.

“Don’t be afraid to dream, through hard work, anything is possible,” Ben Cesar said. “Parents? These things won’t happen without you guys.”